Study Of Biodegradation Activity In Micromycetes After Long-term Exposure In The Environment Of The International Space Station
- Paper number
IAC-07-A1.6.04
- Author
Dr. Natalia Novikova, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Ms. Yulia Svistunova, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Mrs. Elena Deshevaya, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Mr. Nikolai Polikarpov, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Coauthor
Mrs. Svetlana Poddubko, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Long-operating space stations combine all up-to-date engineering developments, technical and biological achievements and inevitably maintain a unique environment of artificial origin which is favorable for the formation of a microbial community. A space ship cabin provides a great number of factors helping various microorganisms to survive and to increase in number which can endanger the work and reliability of space equipment. Special attention should be paid to microscopic fungi producing organic acids as a result of performing their vital functions. These acids are known to be strong aggressive metabolites causing rapid and deep destruction of metals which is hazardous in long-duration space flights and especially the planned Martian flight. The goal of our research was to study colonization and biodegradation activity of micromycetes on aluminium alloy plates widely used in the aviation and space industry. Aspergillus versicolor and Penicillium expansum strains exposed in the International Space Station {ISS} environment during 7 and 12 months were selected as test objects. The qualitative and quantitative composition of acids produced by the test strains was determined by liquid chromatography. Research data testify of the high colonization and biodegradation activity of all the test strains with regard to the tested material - aluminium alloy. It should be noted that the strains of Penicillium expansum have shown stronger biodegradation activity and caused a significantly higher loss of mass in the aluminium alloy plates compared to the strains of Aspergillus versicolor. The fact can be attributed to the ability of Penicillium expansum to acidify the environment considerably and produce among the large range of different acids an acetic acid known to be an intensifier of corrosion in aluminium alloys. It is also of interest that the intensity of acid production increased depending on the length of exposure of the strains in the ISS environment. These date attest to the necessity of continuous microbiological monitoring of structural materials in long-operating orbital stations as well as to the possibility of developing means and methods for antimicrobial protection. The work was performed under the project ISTC # 3392
- Abstract document